Question

What are dental caries? How is it caused?

Answer 1

Teeth are mineralized tissues found in the jaws of vertebrates. Teeth are required to chew the food that we consume and convert them into an easily digestible form. Teeth like all other tissues in our body are prone to infections caused by several bacteria which if left untreated can cause severe dental ailments.

Complete step by step answer: Hard calcified structures present in the jaws of human beings and other vertebrates are called teeth. The teeth give shape to the jaws, helps in masticating the food and even in speaking. Like all other tissues, teeth can be damaged by bacteria. The breakdown of teeth by bacterial infection is known as dental caries or tooth decay. Commonly dental caries are referred to as cavities of teeth.
There are several bacteria present in our oral cavity or mouth. Among them, tooth decay is caused by bacteria of the genus Streptococcus and Lactobacillus. The bacteria that are capable of causing tooth decay are known as cariogenic bacteria. These bacteria can form lactic acid by fermenting the dietary sugar and show resistance to low pH.
When we eat, food particles adhere in between the teeth. These bacteria act upon the food particles, especially on the sugars. Fermentation of the sugar particles to form lactic acid promote the formation of a thin film over the teeth. This is known as plaque. formation of plaques indicates an acidic environment in the mouth. The plaques, if not removed regularly by brushing, matures to form cavities. Once cavities are formed, the exposed part of the tooth, the enamel undergoes demineralization. If left untreated in initial stages, the soft tissues of the teeth under the dentine is also affected, leading to pain and loss of the tooth.
Apart from bacteria and dietary sugars, low saliva flow in the mouth can also cause dental caries. The saliva secreted by the salivary glands can balance out the acidic environment of the mouth caused by acid secreting bacteria. If the saliva secretion is low, the acidic nature of the mouth cannot be counterbalanced causing widespread decay of teeth.

Note: Teeth decay or Dental caries are formed by acid secreting bacteria. These bacteria promote fermentation of dietary sugars to produce lactic acid which in turn creates an acidic environment in the mouth. The process of fermentation creates film like plaques on the tooth, which later initiates the caries. Tooth decay can cause loss of tooth and extreme pain. Dental caries are widespread in all countries. Regular brushing and flossing can help to reduce caries.